• Submitted by: manso
• Travel and Tourism
• 10 / 23 / 2010

---

Published: Saturday | October 23, 2010. It wasn't at the top of my list of countries to visit and, I suspect, most Jamaicans wouldn't think of vacationing there. But, to my surprise, it was a fabulous pick and I can safely say I'd do it again and again.

Just 90 miles north of Jamaica, Cuba is the island's closest neighbour and, despite what has been said about its politics, the country is teeming rich with culture, history, beautiful architecture and breathtaking scenery.

If you decide to add Cuba to your travel agenda, there are some must-see places that you should have on your exploration list:

1.  The Capitol

This is a must. There, you will see many icons of Cuban architecture. The most outstanding is Havana's majestic Capitol building, El Capitolio Nacional - with fantastic Corinthian columns - a replica of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. Once the seat of Cuban government until the Revolution in 1959, many of its rooms are now used for state, political and scientific events. Beside El Capitolio is Teatro Nacional. When I visited, it was being renovated, so tourists were not allowed inside. This building is home to some of Cuba's theatre and operas. Payret, opposite El Capitolio, is the movie theatre, featuring both local and foreign films.

2.  El Prado

Strolling along El Prado, a European-style boulevard that is officially called Paseo de Marti (Paseo del Prado), reminded me of my walks along the Brian Lara Promenade in Trinidad. Large bronze lions, silently roaring, protect the 'gates' of each section of the boulevard and the streets are lined with 18th-century lamp posts. After touring and and whirlwind shopping on Obispo Street, or Bishop Street, one can rest and have lunch anywhere along El Prado.

3.  Parque Central (Central Park)

Located at the end of El Prado, this small green area is filled with life - large groups of men talking sports, individuals reading newspaper, lovers relaxing, picture-snapping, people-watching tourists, children playing and taxi men bartering.

4.  Old Havana (La Habana Vieja)

This is history central for Cuba. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Old Havana's cobblestone streets, such as Obispo and San Rafael, take tourists to craft shops, modern stores housed in old buildings, pizzeria and ice cream stops, restaurants, taxi stops and historical sites such as the La Bodeguita del Medio - the one-time watering hole of famed American author Ernest Hemingway - and the awesome Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana (Cathedral of St Christopher of Havana).

All across the city, residential dwellings - again, housed in the old buildings - give real meaning to the phrase 'airing dirty laundry in public'. These apartment-style homes blend in with museums, shops and eateries; so, old folks and young people can be seen relaxing at doors to dwellings, children play la pelota (the street version of baseball, the national sport) in the street, and cats and dogs can be seen loitering near restaurants or lazing in the park. Also, there is no end to the amount of laundry one sees hanging from lines on tiny balconies.

5.  Museums

For a walk down memory lane, Havana has lots of museums detailing Cuba's evolution from colonial outpost to revolutionary republic. In Cathedral Square, the Museum of Colonial Art is a treasure trove of furniture and other houseware that transports you hundreds of years back to family life of the Spanish, who made their first footprint on the island through Columbus in 1492.

On Obispo is the Museo Nacional de los Comités de Defensa de la Revolucion, where the larger-than-life figures of Fidel Castro, José Marti and Ernesto 'Che' Guevara loom large, with artefacts, documents, paintings and other pieces which record the less touristy side of Cuba - the 1959 revolution and the United States-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion two years later. The cost to enter both museums was affordable, at 2 convertible Cuban pesos (US$2.50) a head. Other halls of history include the Museo de la Revolucion (Revolution Museum) and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (the National Museum of Fine Arts).

6.  Hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns

These can be found all over the city and dotting the countryside. If you do your research, you can find one that fits your spending budget, or even two, depending on your length of stay in Cuba. Hotel Vedado, Hotel Saint Johns, El Bosque Hotel and Hotel Kohly are some of the reasonably priced recommendations. Hotel Nacional de Cuba, Habana Libre, Hotel Inglaterra, Hotel Occidental Miramar, the Plaza Hotel in Havana, and Brisas de la Caribe in Varadero, are some of the more high-priced accommodations. Bed-and-breakfasts are more common in the rural areas, such as Pinar del Rio, where locals are allowed to rent rooms to tourists.

If your hotel is near the Malecon, Havana's coastline, there's no better treat than getting out of bed early - at 7 a.m., when sunrise is just about to unfold, the streets are virtually empty as Cubans are just unleashing the yawn of dawn - and strolling out to catch sunrise amid middle-age fishermen out for a catch. There ain't anything quite like a fresh greeting from the morning sun with spray from the crashing waves gracing your face.

7.  Varadero

Strictly a beach resort, much like the seven-mile, white-sand beach strip in Negril, Varadero is all sand, sea and sun. Packed with more than 50 all-inclusive hotels, Varadero offers relaxation from the hustle and bustle of city life. After spending days exploring Havana City, a day trip to Varadero beach would be more than welcome. But as a horse carriage taxi man said, "That's not real Cuba."

8.  Pinar del Rio

Talk about a breath of fresh air! Located in Pinar, the westernmost province of the island, this rural town is a definite must-see. A near three-hour drive will take you into the countryside, famed for its tobacco plantation. (Good stuff, I'm told). Also known as the Garden of Cuba - because of its natural beauty - Pinar del Rio is home to the best karst valley in Cuba, with places such as Vinales Valley (also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO) including the awesome Mogotes - a series of undulating hillocks which enclose a serene and pristine valley. The province also features a number of caves such as Cueva del Indio (Indian Cave), Cueva de Santo Tomas and the largest mural in Cuba - the Mural of Prehistory (120m high and 180m wide).

9. Necropolis Cristobal Colon

Now, this might seem a little a bit creepy or morbid at first, but the experience is quite interesting. Necropolis Cristobal Colon is the most famous and largest cemetery in Cuba, and one of three largest in the world. Built in 1871, this 139-year-old City of the Dead is resting place for many of Cuba's political, cultural and historical figures. It houses an octagonal chapel and has little 'streets' with their own names. Though some tombstones and vaults are broken, the marble-dominated cemetery is itself a study in art and architecture, with grandiose mausoleums and sculptures oozing centuries of history.

10.  Restaurants and pizzerias

No vacation is complete without fine dining and by-the-way eateries. No Burger King, no KFC, no Pizza Hut. I'm referring to an all-Cuban cuisine. On almost every corner of every street in the city, you can find place to stop and eat. Tourists, and locals alike, can never go hungry. So, whether it's a large two-slice pizza for 25 cents, or 10 chicken croquetas for one peso, or a three-course meal for 20 pesos, make eating in Cuba a delightful experience. For a remarkable gastronomic experience with a view, go to El Patio restaurant in Cathedral Square (balcony view is the bomb!) or El Floridita, another stomping ground of Hemingway's, which offers a cosmopolitan menu.

Shaunette Wright, Gleaner Writer

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20101023/lead/lead71.html